Center for AmericanProgress staffjoins IFPTE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – IFPTE welcomed its
newest members, the staff
at the Center for American
Progress (CAP), who
recently joined IFPTE
Local 70.

A nearly unanimous number of staff signed
authorization cards. Almost 100 staff members
at CAP are in the new bargaining unit.

CAP is a non-partisan policy institute with teams
covering major issues such as the economy, education, labor and work. Through communications and outreach, CAP helps to shape national
policy debate with the goal of developing ideas
that lead to real change.

In a message to management, the staff noted:
“We firmly believe that forming a union is in the spirit
of our core mission and complementary to the good
conditions and workplace standards we already enjoy.
Bargaining collectively will help us to uphold and
improve upon these conditions—both for ourselves
and for those who follow us—and will empower us
to continue to pursue, develop, and promote the bold
progressive ideas that drive our work and shape the
national policy debate.”
Given the significant number of staff who signed
cards seeking union representation, CAP management voluntarily recognized Local 70 on
behalf of staff.

“In keeping with CAP’s long-held support of
workers’ collective bargaining rights, we support
and recognize the move by our staff to join IFPTE
Local 70,” said CAP President Neera Tanden.

IFPTE Local 70 also represents employees at thefollowing non-profit organizations:• American Friends Service Committee• Center for Economic and Policy Research(CEPR)

About 500 Area Reps throughout every bargaining unit are receiving new SPEEA jackets in recognition of their efforts as workplace liaisons.

Council Reps in Wichita invited Area Reps to their February meeting offsite as a special recognition
event to deliver the jackets (shown above).

In the Puget Sound and elsewhere, Council Reps are hosting lunchtime meetings to distribute the
jackets. Area Reps submitted their sizes last fall during Area Rep Recognition Month.

The jackets are part of a recognition effort to show appreciation for their role in keeping coworkers
informed and help answer questions. Council Reps have similar SPEEA jackets.

SPEEA Wichita Council Rep Carla Stroot is shown here with some of her Area Reps (from left) Lou Sears, Dustin
Yoder, Stroot, and Maria Galvan.

Organizing Success

'Thrill’ of planes keepsworkers engaged

SEATTLE – At an event featuring books related to Boeing workers, the authors discussed the numerous changes at the
aerospace company, but concluded some things
don’t change.

Working on airplanes is a “thrill” that keeps employees engaged in their work despite the stress of significant
culture shifts.

“The relationship between Boeing and its workforce has become increasingly strained,” said
Leon Grundberg, co-author with Sarah Moore,
of “Emerging from Turbulence.” Through the
book’s focus on workers’ perspective, they saw
more “emotional detachment, some anger and
some sadness,” they told a crowd of about 30 at
a recent event.

However, Moore noted the “magic” of workingat Boeing, whether it was the camaraderie of theworkers or the problem solving. “It surprised ushow that lasted despite all of the changes at Boeing.”The two authors interviewed several SPEEAmembers as part of their research which spannedtwo decades and followed up on a previous book,they co-authored with Edward S. Greenbergand Patricia Sikora. The previous book wascalled “Turbulence: Boeing and the State ofAmerican Workers and Managers.”Another author,

Polly Reed Myers,
also shared her
insights at both
events which drew
Boeing workers
and retirees. She
wrote “Capitalist
Family Values,”
and noted how
unions contribute to the sense of
family and serve
as a resource to
resolve issues.
Reed Myers, who
long ago worked
as a Boeing archivist, explored
gender, work and
corporate culture
in her book.

The two events
were presented by
the Harry Bridges
Center for Labor
Studies, the Washington State Labor Education
and Research Center (LERC) and the University
Book Store.